Former Governor of Anambra State, Mr Peter Obi, says he has moved to a route free of rancour by joining the Labour Party to contest the 2023 presidential election.

Obi, who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party over issues he views as being at variance with his person and principles, said finally he had joined the LP that would enable actualise the dream of leading Nigerians away from consumption to production.

Obi registered with the Labour Party at his Agulu Ward 2, with a large crowd trouping to the party’s office to witness the event.

This happened on a day that Senate Minority Whip, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who was schemed out of the governorship primaries in Abia State left the PDP for the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and resigned as Senate minority leader.

After obtaining the party’s card, Obi, in a statement titled: “The Road to Recovery,” thanked Nigerians for identifying with him to rescue the country.

The statement said, “I thank all Nigerians, especially our youths, who have joined me in the mission of rescuing and taking back Nigeria. This project is yours and for the future of your children. I am just a facilitator.

‘Peter Obi’s withdrawal, devastating blow on South-East’s quest for presidency in 2023’

“Since I resigned from the PDP because of issues that are at variance with my person and principles, I have consulted widely with various parties and personalities to ensure we do not complicate the route to our desired destination.

“For me, the process of getting into this high office is as fundamental as what one will do thereafter. Therefore, I have chosen a route free of rancour and one in line with my mantra of taking the country from consumption to production and that is the Labour Party, which is synonymous with the people, workers, development, production, securing and uniting the Nigerians as one family.

“I invite my fellow Nigerians to join me to take back our country. Be assured that I’ll never let you down.”

Speaking during an interview with Channels Television last night, Peter Obi said, “I’m not desperate to be president. I’m desperate to see Nigeria work, especially for the youths of this country.”

Obi’s move drew cheers from Igbo elders and his ally, Dr Doyin Okupe, who have 25 million Nigerians in a growing coalition against the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and PDP in the 2023 general polls.

Okupe said, “I can confirm to you that he (Obi) has joined the Labour Party. We are going to use the Labour Party as a platform to form a coalition. We already have over 25 million Nigerians who are part of this coalition.

“We are also bringing together other parties who will be part of this coalition. We are also building a coalition that is bigger than both PDP and APC.

After 15 months of discussion and engagements six parties on the banner of Allied political parties, and the National Consultative Front, NCFront, the umbrella body of the Third Force Movement, last week agreed to join forces with the Labour Party, LP, to present a joint presidential and other candidates for the 2023 polls.

This adoption of the Labour Party was made possible by the new rapprochement between the leadership of the Labour Movement and the hierarchy of the Labour Party- emergent solidarity jointly spearheaded by President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba; and the Trade Union Congress, TUC President, Comrade Quadri Olaleye, who have revalidated their membership of the Labour Party by formally registering with the party, last week.

Leaders of the ‘Third Force’ Movement across party lines including Prof Attahiru Jega of the People’s Redemption Party, PRP, Professor Pat Utomi of the Labour Party and Senator Saidu Dansadau of the National Rescue Movement, NRM. The other parties in the coalition are African Democratic Congress, ADC: New Nigeria Peoples Party; Social Democratic Party, SDP; and Allied Peoples Movement.

Elder statesmen from the South-East, under the Igbo Elders Consultative Forum, have expressed their support for Peter Obi’s decision.

IECF Chairman, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, in a statement in Abuja, Friday, said the Forum had been worried about Obi’s fate in the PDP.

He alleged that there was a plot to deny the South-East the 2023 presidential ticket in the PDP; stressing that the ex-governor’s defection to Labour Party was God’s answer to their prayers.

“I was praying: Oh God, instead of this man (Obi) to be messed up, let him come out and join another party. So with his exit from the PDP, my prayer has been answered,” he said.

Ezeife, however, stressed that denying the South-East the presidency in 2023 would have dire consequences for Nigeria’s corporate existence, considering the current crisis, insecurity and separatist agitations in the region.

He noted that delegates to the respective presidential primaries of the political parties have a historic responsibility to determine who leads the country in 2023 and their choice would have profound consequences on the peace, unity, security, stability and corporate existence of Nigeria.

“We, therefore, enjoin the delegates to be courageous and patriotic enough in discharging this historic responsibility of electing the presidential candidates from the South-East to heal the wound of the civil war and properly reintegrate the Igbos into Nigeria for democratic, accountable and transparent governance of the country.”

There are indications that after Obi’s registration with the Labour Party many ward officers of the PDP in the state may soon defect. Many officials and members of the PDP across the state are also said to be warming up to join Obi in his new party.

Already, more chieftains of the PDP have left the party, among those who were the PDP former governorship candidate in Anambra, Mr Oseloka Obaze, who was the former Secretary to the State Government.